Health Tip: What’s Healthy Blood Pressure?

Maintaining a healthy blood pressure is fundamental to overall health and prevention of cardiovascular disease and other chronic health problems.

But what’s healthy?

The American Heart Association offers this chart of healthy and unhealthy ranges:

Normal	less than 120	and	less than 80
Blood Pressure Category	Systolic mm Hg (upper #)		Diastolic mm Hg (lower #)
Prehypertension	120 – 139	or	80 – 89
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Stage 1	140 – 159	or	90 – 99
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Stage 2	160 or higher	or	100 or higher
Hypertensive Crisis (Emergency care needed)	Higher than 180	or	Higher than 110

If your blood pressure is higher than 180/110 mm Hg and you ARE having symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness/weakness, changes in vision or difficulty speaking, call 9-1-1 immediately.

If you are NOT having any of these symptoms, wait about five minutes and take your pressure again. If the reading is still at or above 180/110 mm Hg, dial 9-1-1 without delay.

Source: HealthDay